Deconstructing Urban Resilience: Ten Global Voices on the Future of Our Cities

In the historic heart of Vienna, the SMU City Dialogues convened a diverse panel of global experts to tackle one of the most pressing questions of our time: What is the value of urban resilience? Moderating the discussion, Professor of Geography Orlando Woods, who is concurrently Director of the SMU Urban Institute, framed resilience as a ‘boundary object’ - a term that unites disparate stakeholders but also reveals deep-seated tensions.

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic, flexible working arrangements (FWAs) have become more prevalent. A McKinsey study showed that 87% of Americans surveyed would take the chance to work flexibly if offered. The current debate is on whether the rise of FWAs is an “opportunity” for a more egalitarian gender division of household labour or if it reinforces the exploitation of women in the traditional gender division.

This article is featured in Special Feature: Navigating Urban Sustainability.

In today’s fast-paced society, “work-life balance” has become a very significant phrase in our lives because of the tension between professional duties and individual personal commitment. 

The narrative about work being increasingly unstable and insecure is unsurprising and seen in fluctuating unemployment rates in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, it is often the employees who bear the risks of unstable work and job insecurity. 

Cities face a web of shared challenges like surging populations, ageing demographics and the looming threat of climate change. Out-of-the-box thinking and research-based insights are crucial in helping urban leaders find the best way forward, with resilience and adaptability. Given the scale and urgency of these issues however, no city can achieve this in isolation.  

What does an “ideal job” mean to you? The definition of an ‘ideal job’ or product or partner is different for everyone. Some may have more requirements than others, for instance, some people may need their ‘ideal job’ to pay well, have health benefits, and be easily accessible by public transport; whereas some may only need it to pay well. 

Similar to any organisation, owners in family firms can have disagreements that stem from different views, personalities, interests and priorities. But unlike non-family firms, such disagreements in family firms can spillover from the business into the personal domain and vice versa. 

Last updated: 02/05/2024

This article is featured in Special Feature: Raising Cities

During periods of rapid economic growth and urbanisation, young women tend to outnumber young men in cities as the former are more likely to migrate from rural areas to urban areas.